How To Make Friends and Influence People (with a dip)

Tis the season for entertaining. Our party schedule has officially reached Frantic Holiday mode with 2 dinners with friends, one birthday party and getting our loft insulated this weekend alone.

And as every one knows that calories don't count when eating with friends, it was a perfect excuse to whip up my secret weapon.

I once brought this dip to the worst party I've ever been to, full of the most socially inept hippies I've ever met (I include myself in that category). Stilted conversations and lack of eye contact made it the longest 2 hours of my life...and then my dip was brought out. People were falling over each other to talk about it, to delight in its creaminess, to comment on its surprising taste and from there conversations began...its that good (or there really was that little to talk about).

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Ingredients:

1pk(300g) Cream Cheese

1/2cup Sour Cream

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

1 small jar of artichoke hearts

1 cup wilted spinach

1t powdered garlic

salt to taste

Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, garlic and Parmesan until smooth. Chop the spinach and artichoke hearts into small pieces and mix through. Spoon mix into ovenproof dish and bake for 15 minutes or until bubbling and golden.

Serve warm with crusty bread, crackers, or crisps (chips). Watch the conversation flow and you will become every one's best friend.